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Meet the Voice Behind ‘Bering Sea Gold’: Mike Rowe, the ‘Dirty Jobs’ Star

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Meet the Voice Behind ‘Bering Sea Gold’: Mike Rowe, the ‘Dirty Jobs’ Star

Mike Rowe is an American media personality who has demonstrated his diverse skills and interests in various shows, podcasts, books, and projects that he has hosted, narrated, produced, and created. He is widely recognized for his role on the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs, where he explored and performed hundreds of different jobs that are often filthy, hazardous, or challenging. He also lent his voice to several popular documentaries and series, such as Deadliest Catch, How the Universe Works, Bering Sea Gold and Shark Week.

Mike Rowe is not only an entertainer, but also a supporter of the skilled trades and vocational education. He established the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, which offers scholarships and grants to people who want to pursue careers in the trades. He also initiated a national campaign to revive shop class in high schools and promote the importance of hard work and craftsmanship. Learn more on this page about Mike Rowe, including his marital status, net worth, career and many more facts.

Who is Mike Rowe?

Mike Rowe is an American television host and narrator who is most known for his work on CNN's "Somebody's Got to Do It" and the Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" series. He had a unique upbringing away from "amusement parks or must-see events" because he was born into a family of teachers. He regretted those pals who "had to endure them" or "had no older cousins to provide them with a superior wardrobe of softer, studier, broken-in alternatives" since he didn't miss them. He started his work at Baltimore Opera at the age of 22, later taking on many freelancing positions that afforded him enough free time to laze around. A mistake led to his getting his first full-time job, "Dirty Jobs," at the age of 41. He continues to take on unexpected jobs for his career while being busy, such as trying out a shark suit by swimming with three reef sharks for Discovery Channel while being shaken around like "a tug-of-war" by them.

Mike Rowe, The voice behind Bering Sea Gold
Mike Rowe, The voice behind Bering Sea Gold

Early life of Mike Rowe

Mike Rowe was born on March 18, 1962, in Baltimore County, Maryland, to John and Peggy Rowe, who were both teachers. His two younger brothers are named Scott and Phil, and he is the oldest of his parents' three children. He attended Overlea High School for his education. He became interested in singing and theater while he was a student there, and he excelled in both of them under choir director Freddie King. Later, he gave King credit having piqued his interest in acting. 

He became an Eagle Scout in 1979 and developed an interest in narrating and writing by reading to students at the Maryland School for the Blind. The event sparked his desire to write and tell stories. He entered Essex Community College after graduating from Overlea High School in 1980, but quickly transferred to Towson University, where he received his degree in communications studies in 1985.

Career of Mike Rowe

Mike Rowe entered the Baltimore Opera in 1984 with fake identification in an attempt to obtain SAG accreditation, which was required for entry into the television industry. He eventually received the certification for his portrayal of "Rigoletto," but he kept working because by that point he had learned to cherish his experience where he sang for seven seasons. Midway through the 1980s, he started hosting "Your New Home" for WJZ-TV in Baltimore, and he did so for the following fifteen years. In 1990, he also appeared in an audition for the QVC Shopping Channel after betting a friend $100 that he wouldn't get a callback, where he was fired for making fun of the products. He then freelanced for various TV shows and networks before landing his breakthrough role on Dirty Jobs in 2003. 

After completing a variety of freelance jobs during the 1990s, he received his first break in 2000 as a presenter and narrator for the History Channel television series "The Most." The show ran till 2004 and covered a wide range of topics. He served as the host of "Evening Magazine" on San Francisco's KPIX-TV from 2001 to 2005 and also appeared in the news program "Somebody's Got to Do It." In 2002, he also provided narration for 13 episodes of "Worst Case Scenarios."

  • About Bering Sea Gold

The Discovery Channel debuted the reality television program "Bering Sea Gold" in 2012. The program focuses on the day-to-day struggles and dangers faced by gold miners working in the Bering Sea off the coast of Nome, Alaska. As they scour the ocean below for gold, these miners battle extreme weather, subzero temperatures, and technological difficulties. The gold miners featured in "Bering Sea Gold" are a diverse group, and each one has unique skills and personality traits. As of the latest season 17 which premiered on October 06, 2023 consists of cast members like Shawn Pomrenke, Emily Riedel, Vernon Adkison, Chase Taylor, Brad Kelly, Kris Kelly, George Young, Dave Young, Andy Kelly, Bob Hafner, Ken Kerr, Yvonne Adkison, Elaine Adkison, and Gary Panos Jr.

The cast is made up of people and organizations that use a range of equipment, such as dredges, sluice boxes, and suction dredges, to recover gold from the ocean floor. One of the main themes of the show is the characters' strong competition. Due to the few areas that allow for mining, the high cost of operations, and the short mining season, miners frequently compete with one another and the clock to extract as much gold as they can.

  • Greater Works

Mike Rowe is also a bestselling author, recording artist, podcaster, spokesman, and whiskey maker. He has written a book of short stories called The Way I Heard It, which is also the name of his podcast that features original stories and interviews with interesting people. He has recorded several albums of opera and musical theater songs, as well as a collection of patriotic songs called American Anthems. He has represented many Fortune 500 companies, such as Ford, Caterpillar, and Motorola, in commercials and campaigns. He has also introduced a line of Tennessee whiskey called Knobel, named after his grandfather, Carl Knobel, who was a skilled tradesman and the inspiration for Dirty Jobs.

Mike Rowe from Bering Sea Gold
Mike Rowe from Bering Sea Gold

'Dirty Jobs' is where Mike Rowe gained the most of his notoriety. He does challenging and frequently downright repulsive or unpleasant tasks with regular staff in the television series. He gained the moniker "the dirtiest man on TV" thanks to the eight seasons of the globally broadcast show.

  • Television

Bering Sea Gold is a reality series that Mike Rowe narrates, which follows the lives and adventures of gold miners in Nome, Alaska. The show debuted in 2012 and currently on its 17th season as of 2023. Mike Rowe has been the narrator for the show since 2013, replacing the previous narrator and producer Thom Beers.

Mike Rowe's narration brings humor, drama, and insight to the show, as he introduces the viewers to the different characters, locations, and challenges that the gold miners face. He also clarifies the technical aspects of the gold mining process, such as the types of dredges, equipment, and techniques that the miners use. He also remarks on the risks and rewards of the gold mining industry, such as the environmental factors, the legal issues, the market fluctuations, and the personal conflicts that the miners encounter.

Year

Title

Role

Notes

2000–2004

The Most

Host & narrator

History Channel

2002

Worst Case Scenarios

Host

TBS

2002–2010

American Chopper

Narrator

Discovery Channel

2003

Incredible Basements

Host & narrator

HGTV

2003–2012,

2020–present

Dirty Jobs

Host

Discovery Channel

2004

American Hot Rod

Narrator

The Learning Channel and Discovery Channel

2004–2010, 2021-present

Ghost Hunters

Narrator

A&E Discovery+

2005–present

Deadliest Catch

Narrator

Discovery Channel

2005–2010

The Ultimate Fighter

Narrator

Spike TV

2006

Shark Week

Host

Discovery Channel

2007–2012

After the Catch

Host

Discovery Channel

2007

American Dad!

Meter Maid

Season 3, episode 2

2008–2010

Ghost Hunters International

Narrator

Syfy

2009

Wild Pacific

Himself

Discovery Channel

2010, 2014–Present

How the Universe Works

Narrator

Seasons 1, 3, 4, 6–11

2011

Human Planet

Narrator

Discovery Channel

2012

How Booze Built America

Himself

Discovery Channel

2012

Last Man Standing

Jim Baxter

Episode 18

2013–2014,

2019–present

Bering Sea Gold

Host

Discovery Channel

2013–2015

Airplane Repo

Narrator

Discovery Channel

2013

Bering Sea Gold: Under The Ice

Host

Discovery Channel

Mike Rowe's narration also matches his other work on Discovery Channel, such as his podcast The Way I Heard It, where he features original stories and interviews with interesting people. One of the episodes of his podcast (289) featured an interview with Shawn Pomrenke, one of the stars of Bering Sea Gold and a successful gold miner. In the interview, Mike Rowe discovered more about Shawn's background, personality, and experiences as a gold miner.

Mike Rowe's career as a narrator for Bering Sea Gold demonstrates his versatility and accomplishment as a media personality. He has entertained, educated, and inspired millions of people with his humor, wisdom, and generosity. He is also a passionate advocate for the skilled trades and vocational education, and he founded the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, which provides scholarships and grants to people who want to pursue careers in the trades. He is currently working on new projects and shows, such as Six Degrees for Discovery and The Story Behind the Story for TBN.

Personal Life of Mike Rowe

Mike Rowe's Spouse, Marriage, and Kids. He is married to Daniel Burgoo. Mike Rowe does not discuss his personal life and likes to keep things private. He is an American TV producer, voice actor, presenter, and narrator. They settled in New York, where they have raised their two kids. He has hosted a variety of shows, such as Dirty Jobs and Someone's Got to Day.

  • Mike Rowe's family 

John and Peggy Rowe, Mike Rowe's parents, were also educators. Scott and Phil are Mike's younger brothers. Mike's mother is a prolific author. 2018 saw the success of her debut book, All About My Mother: True Stories About a Horse-Crazy Daughter and her Baseball-Obsessed Mother. 

Mike Rowe’s Net worth

Mike Rowe is a remarkable and influential figure who has entertained, educated, and inspired millions of people with his humor, wisdom, and generosity. He is currently working on new projects and shows, such as Six Degrees for Discovery and The Story Behind the Story for TBN.

Mike Rowe, a television host, has a $30 million net worth. Mike Rowe hosts a number of television program and receives a $250,000 pay per episode. He is well-known for his work on the series Somebody's Got to Do It and the series Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel.

Mike Rowe constantly participates in social media platforms, where he shares his views with the public and motivates people to put in more effort. Nevertheless, he has endured a lot of hardship throughout his life. He has narrated and hosted numerous series, therefore he has a wealth of show knowledge. He lives in Northern California and has over 6 million followers on Facebook, where he posts regularly about his personal and professional endeavors. He is also active on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter, where he interacts with his fans and shares his views on various topics.

Mike Rowe's successful career has been largely due to his distinctive male voice. It is one of the primary factors drawing millions of viewers to the CNN series Somebody's Got to Do It and other program he appears on. 

Biography

Michael Gregory Rowe popularly known as Mike Rowe was born on March 18, 1962 in Baltimore County, Maryland. As of 2023 he climbed to 61 years old. He is a TV host and narrator from America. Peggy and John Rowe gave birth to him. He is a native of Maryland's Baltimore County. As a child, he attended schools in Baltimore and worshiped with his parents at Kenwood Presbyterian Church in Nottingham, Maryland.

 Trivia

  • Midway through the 1980s, he started hosting "Your New Home" for WJZ-TV in Baltimore, and he did so for the following fifteen years.
  • In 1990, he also appeared in an audition for the QVC Shopping Channel after betting a friend $100 that he wouldn't get a callback. 
  • After completing a variety of freelance jobs during the 1990s, he received his first break in 2000 as a presenter and narrator for the History Channel television series "The Most."

StarFacts of Mike Rowe

Full Name

Michael Gregory Rowe

Popular Name

Mike Rowe

Nickname

Mike

Gender

Male

Date of birth

18 March 1962

Age

61 years old (as of 2023)

Nationality

American

Ethnicity

Caucasian

Height in feet

6′ 0”

Weight 

84 kg

Mother

Peggy Rowe

Father

John Rowe

Siblings

2 (Scott and Phil)

Marital status

Single

Profession

Television host, the narrator

Net worth

$30 million

Social Media

FacebookInstagramTwitter

FAQs

Why is Mike Rowe well-known?

Michael Gregory Rowe is an American television host and narrator who was born on March 18, 1962. He is well-known for his work on the CNN original series Somebody's Got to Do It and the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs.

Who is the business partner of Mike Rowe?

The president as well as the business partner of mikeroweWORKS Foundation is Mary Sullivan. She began as a straight-A student majoring in biochemistry and finished with a law degree and a job in corporate finance.

Where can I watch Bering Sea Gold?

Bering Sea Gold is currently available on Amazon Prime Video and Discovery+. Bering Sea Gold is available to rent or buy on Google Play, Amazon, iTunes, and Vudu.